JOIN THE FIGHT!

VFW says pay and benefits changes will end all-volunteer military

February 23, 2012

WASHINGTON—The
national commander of America’s largest and oldest major combat veterans’
organization is urging the entire military and veterans’ community to “Join the
Fight” to stop the Defense Department from penny-pinching service members to
the point of dismantling the all-volunteer force.

“There
is no military personnel issue more sacrosanct than pay and benefits,” said
Richard L. DeNoyer, who leads the 2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the U.S. and its Auxiliaries. “Any proposal that negatively impacts any Quality
of Life program must be defeated, and that’s why the VFW is asking everyone to
join the fight and send a united voice to Congress.”

The
DOD budget unveiled February 13 recommends 1.7 percent military pay raises for
2013 and 2014, followed by a scant 0.5 percent increase in 2015, and 1 percent
in 2016. Also announced were plans to almost quadruple Tricare Prime enrollment
fees for some working age military retirees, impose Tricare for Life enrollment
fees on those older than 65, and introduce enrollment fees and increased
deductibles on Tricare Standard and Extra users. Included in DOD’s healthcare
revenue plan are increased pharmaceutical copayments for retirees as well as
military dependents.

DOD
also recommends reducing the size of the active force by more than 100,000
troops over the next five years—mostly soldiers and Marines—through attrition,
a reduction in force, mandatory retirements and high year of tenure
separations, among others. In addition, DOD gave the White House the go-ahead
to create a commission to examine overhauling the current military retirement
system in a manner that would benefit the government more through savings than reward
someone who first has to volunteer 20 or more years of their youth just to
qualify.

Ideas
already floated include older programs such as High-3 Pay and the reduced
retirement plan (Redux), as well as new ones that would delay the receipt of
retirement pay till age 60 (similar to current National Guard and Reserve
programs), or be contributory, 401(k)-type programs (similar to corporate
America). Newly authorized are 15 year retirements, which accrue at the normal
rate of 2.5 percent of base pay annually, minus a 1-percent penalty for every
year below 20.

“Those
currently serving in uniform or already retired are grandfathered under the
existing system,” said DeNoyer, a retired Marine and Vietnam combat veteran
from Middleton, Mass. “Our concern is for tomorrow’s recruits, the young
18-year-old enlistees and new 22-year-old officers who will be fighting
tomorrow’s wars with the same force challenges as today—high operations tempos,
too little dwell time, and not enough troops to meet worldwide threats and
commitments.”

The
VFW national commander said 10 years of war has produced a battle-hardened
force that’s extremely proud of their accomplishments but 100 percent aware of
the general public’s noninvolvement.

“They
and their families worry about getting paid on time,” he said. “They worry
about what will happen if the car breaks down or if a loved one should get hurt
at home or during training exercises or real-world deployments. Most of all,
especially with this defense budget submission, they worry about whether the
folks who give all the orders really care about the troops who do all the
fighting and sacrificing.”

DeNoyer
wants America’s 22 million veterans, 2 million service members and all their
families to “Join the Fight” to make their voices heard loud and clear to the
lawmakers who have the power to override these negative Quality of Life
proposals.

“A
secure America needs a strong military,” he said, “and whether one serves
honorably for four years or 40, messing with military pay and benefits is a
clear signal to the troops and their families that the budget is more important
than people. That is going to seriously hurt recruiting and retention, and
potentially end the all-volunteer force, because nobody wants to work for an
ungrateful employer in a vocation as inherently dangerous as ours.”

Click
on “Join the Fight” and help the VFW tell your elected officials that it takes people to win our
nation’s wars. Breaking faith with those who sacrifice the most will signal the
end of America’s all-volunteer force, which in this extremely volatile and
unpredictable world, is one expense our nation cannot afford.